Machine for vending periodicals



Feb. 7, 1967 c. HUGGlNS ETAL 3,302,830

MACHINE FOR VENDING PERIODICALS Filed Jan. 13, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Cmnzou. E: Huaqms and HOFFMAN N. HUGG\NE ATTORNEY Feb. 7, 1967 HUGGINS ETAL 3,302,830

MACHINE FOR VENDING PERIODICALS Z5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1965 W k m 5 m m m% O m m m U M L L W m m 7 I 4 A W k Feb. 7, 1967 Q. E. HUGGINS ETAL 3,302,330

MACHINE FOR VENDING PERIODICALS Filed Jan. 13, 1965 :s Sheets-Sheet s n m /wa KW f Nw H S f- SW W l 6% I w 4 J 7 b N 3 mm Z 2 United States Patent 3,302,830 MACHINE FQR VENDING PERIODICALS Carroll E. Huggins, 1233 Gilmore Road, Charleston, S.C. 294.07, and Hoffman N. Huggins, 3435 Apache St, Charleston Heights, S.C. 29405 Filed Jan. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 425,154 7 Claims. (Cl. 221-216) This invention relates to vending machines and more particularly to a machine for vending fiat periodicals such as newspapers, magazines, and the like.

One technique for vending periodicals such as newspapers in widespread use today involves the use of a customer operated vending machine, generally of portable construction which is positioned at commercially attractive locations such as street corners, hotel lobbies, and the like. The operation of these machines requires that the customer insert a coin or coins of the proper denomination into suitably provided slots in an enclosure or cabinet containing the newspapers. In one form of such a newspaper vending machine, the insertion of the proper change permits the customer to open an access door to the cabinet exposing the stack of newspapers, one of which is selected by the customer. In another form of such a vending machine, the insertion of the proper change actuates an automatic mechanism which selects a single newspaper from the stack within the cabinet and delivers it to an exposed position from which it can be removed by the customer.

While the type of machine which exposes the entire stack of newspapers to the customer who opens the access door is relatively inexpensive to construct and relatively free from malfunctioning, it has the highly objectionable feature in that .it exposes the entire stack to the customer so as to invite theft by unscrupulous persons. By merely inserting the price of one newspaper in the coin slot, at dishonest person can easily remove the entire stack of news-papers or at least a substantial number generally with little risk of detection. As such machines are generally filled with newspapers at very early or very late hours, such dishonest persons can usually accomplish the theft without risk of observation by others.

On the other hand, while the automatic machine is highly resistant to pilfering, it has the disadvantage of being unusually expensive considering the many parts required for the automatic mechanism. Furthermore, the complexity of such automatic mechanisms and their multiplicity of working parts substantially increase the hazard of malfunctioning and breakdowns in such machines are common. In addition to mechanical failure in the mechanism of such machines, it is not uncommon for newspapers to jam during machine operation. Improper functioning of such automatic machines not only results in costly repairs but usually in the loss of a substantial portion if not all of the unsold newspapers contained within the machine.

Various efforts have been made to overcome the disadvantages of the above two types of machines by combining the better features of both. This third type of machine is manually rather than automatically operated and the manual operation of an operating lever by the customer actuates a suitable mechanism by means of which a newspaper is selected from the stack contained within themachine cabinet and delivered to the'customer. However, present day machines of this third type have not proved satisfactory as although the theft problem has been virtually eliminated and although the parts are somewhat fewer in number and less expensive than the automatic mechanism, the mechanisms are still complicated and costly and are still prone to jamming and malfunctioning. Frequently, the present day machines of the aforementioned third type are so complicated in construction that they approach the cost of the automatic machine, the only saving being; in the elimination of. the driving means such as a motor.

Accordingly, a primary object. of this invention is to provide a new and novel machine for vending periodicals such as newspapers and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel newspaper vending machine for manual operation by the customer in which a single newspaper only is made available for removal by the customer each time the proper change is inserted into the machine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and novel manually operated newspaper vending machine which prevents access to the entire stack of newspapers by the customer so as to eliminate the possibility of theft of the newspapers.

This invention further provides a new and novel manually operated machine for vending periodicals such as newspapers of the type which exposes a single newspaper to the customer for each operation and which is constructed from an absolute minimum of parts but which is characterized by a high degree of reliability.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a new and novel newspaper vending machine which is inexpensive in construction, eliminates the risk of theft of newspapers by dishonest persons, and which delivers a single newspaper to the customer for each operation throughout the entire stack of newspapers loaded in the machine with virtually no risk from malfunctioning OI from jamming of the newspapers.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In general, the objects of the inventionland related objects are accomplished by providing a machine including a cabinet having means therein for supporting a stack of newspapers vertically on edge. A retaining wall is provided in the cabinet against which the stack of newspapers is yieldingly urged by suitable spring means. A discharge opening is provided. in the cabinet and an operating shaft on which is mounted newspaper impaling means is rotatably journaled in the cabinet. Stationary stripping means are also provided. in the cabinet. Means such as an operating lever are provided for rotating the shaft manually so that the shaft may be rotated in one direction to impale the leading newspaper in the stack with the impaling means and then, as the shaft continues to rotate, to lift the leading newspaper from behind the retaining wall. Rotation of the operating shaft in the opposite direction carries the impaled newspaper down wardly on the other side of the retaining wall into engagement with the stripping means so that the newspaper is removed from the impaling means and falls by gravity into the cabinet discharge opening for removal by the customer.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a machine for vending periodicals constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the machine of FIGURE 1 with the top wall removed;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along 3 line 44 of FIGURE 3 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 in the direction of the arrows illustrating the machine loaded with news-papers and with the parts in an inoperative position;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the machine of FIGURE 5 showing the parts in an intermediate operating position;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6 illustrating the parts in the final position of operation; and

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of a portion of the machine taken substantially in the direction of the arrow is of FIGURE 7.

Referring now to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, there is shown a machine for vending periodicals such as newspapers designated generally by the numeral 10. It should be understood, that although the machine 10 is suitable for the vending of any flat periodicals such as newspapers, magazines, etc., it is particularly adapted for the vending of newspapers and it is with reference to the vending of newspapers that the machine will be described hereinafter.

The machine 10 includes an enclosure or cabinet designated generally by the numeral 11 which is preferably mounted on legs 12 so as to be positioned at a suitable height. The cabinet 11 of the machine 10 is arranged to accommodate a stack of newspapers N as shown in FIG- URE 5 and to dispense the newspapers singly upon purchase by a customer. As the machine 111 is of the type which is to be placed at commercially desirable locations such as sidewalks, hotel lobbies, etc., for purchase of the newspapers contained therein by a customer who is on foot, the length of the legs 12 is selected to position the cabinet 11 at an elevation convenient to a customer.

The cabinet 11 includes a front wall 13, a rear wall 14, side walls 16, 17, a top wall 18 and a bottom wall 19. The cabinet front wall 13 is provided with an access opening 21 by means of which access to the interior of the cabinet 11 may be obtained for the placement of newspapers therein. The access opening 21 is arranged to be closed by an access door 22 hingedly mounted on the front wall 13 by means such as hinges 23. The door 22 is preferably provided with a window 24 of glass or the like which permits a view of the interior of the cabinet 11 so as to expose the leading newspaper in the stack as well as indicating when the cabinet is empty after the last newspaper is sold. Preferably, a lock 26 is provided on the door 22 which may be key operated by means of which the door 22 may be locked in the closed position.

An opening 27 is also provided within the cabinet side wall 17 arranged to be closed by a door 28 suitably mounted hingedly in the side opening 27 by means such as hinges 29. A suitable lock 30 which is preferably key operated is provided for locking the door 28 in the closed position as shown in FIGURE 1.

As shown best in FIGURES 2, 3, the cabinet side wall 17 forms together with an inner panel 31 and with the adjacent wall portions of the cabinet 11, a chamber 32 in which is positioned a coin release mechanism designated generally by the numeral 33. It should be understood that the coin release mechanism 33 forms no part of this invention and is shown for illustrative purposes only. As is well understood, coin release mechanisms such as mechanism 33 serve to release the operating mechanism of the machine 10 when coins or change of the proper denomination are inserted therein through slots such as slots 34 positioned in the cabinet front panel 13. The coin release mechanism 33 prevents operation of the vending machine 10 unless the proper change is inserted. The opening 27 in the cabinet side wall 17 provides access to the chamber 32 and coin release mechanism 33 therein as well as to the coins deposited in the chamber 32 as the newspapers are sold.

The cabinet 11 is also provided with a discharge opening 36 in the bottom wall 19 as shown best in FIGURES 4- 5-7. A delivery chute 37 is positioned within the discharge opening 36 and includes a hooked portion 37a forming a trough for receipt of a delivered newspaper N as shown best in FIGURE 7.

As specifically illustrative of the invention, the cabinet 11 is provided with an interior 38 on the opposite side of the partition 31 from the coin release mechanism chamber 32. As previously explained, the chamber 38 is arranged to receive a stack of newspapers N positioned vertically on edge as shown in FIGURE 5 which are inserted through the access opening 21 when the door 22 is opened.

Means are provided in the cabinet interior 38 for supporting the stack of newspapers N. More specifically, a plurality of rails 39 are positioned in the cabinet interior 38 in spaced parallel relationship and extending from the cabinet rear wall 14 to an L-shaped flange 41 extending along the rear edge of the discharge opening 36 to form a platform. Preferably, the L-shape flange 41 is an extension of the cabinet bottom wall 19 and is arranged to support the newspaper delivery chute 37 attached thereto by welding or the like.

Retaining means are provided adjacent the forward end of the rails 39 for limiting the foremost newspaper in the stack of newspapers N to a predetermined forward position. More specifically, the delivery chute 37 is extended upwardly above the rails 39 to form a retaining wall 37!) the inner side of which is engaged by the leading newspaper N in the stack of newspapers N.

Means are provided for yieldingly urging the stack of newspapers N against the retaining wall 3711 which, in the specific embodiment illustrated, comprises pressing means such as a freely movable plate 42 which is yieldingly urged against the rear of the stack of newspapers N by means of pivotally mounted rod members 43, 44. The rod members 43, 44 are provided with downwardly depending portions 43a, 440 respectively engageable with the rear surface of plate 42 and are pivotally mounted on brackets 46, 47 suitably secured to the cabinet side wall 16 and partition 31 respectively. The rod members 43, 44 are urged forwardly in the direction of the stack of newspapers N against the plate 42 by means of springs 48, 49 mounted in the conventional manner as shown best in FIGURE 5 on the brackets 46, 47, respectively.

As shown in FIGURES 2, 5, means are provided for retaining the plate 42 in a rearward position against the urging action of the rod members 43, 44 to permit loading of the machine 10 with newspapers N. More specifically, a rod 51 having ends 51a, 51b bent at right angles as shown extends through an opening in the cabinet rear wall 14 and is rotatably supported in a sleeve 52 suitably mounted on the inner surface of the rear wall 14. The rod member 51 may be manually rotated by means of the bent end 51a to hook the bent end 51b over the upper edge of plate 42 as shown in FIGURE 2. Thus in the position of plate 42 in FIGURE 2, the cabinet 11 is ready for loading with a stack of newspapers N.

An operating shaft 53 is journaled within the cabinet 11 adjacent the front wall 13 and is rotatably supported on the cabinet side walls 16, 17 and the cabinet partition 31. Suitable openings 54, 56, 57 for accommodating the operating shaft 53 are provided in the side wall 17, partition 31 and side wall 16 respectively and the axial position of the shaft 53 is maintained by an operating handle 58 suitably secured to the shaft 53 as shown. It should be noted, in the preferred embodiment, that the cabinet side wall 17 and the right hand portion of the front wall 13 as viewed in FIGURE 1 is formed from a single piece of material for ease of manufacture. An opening 59 is thus easily provided in the front panel 13 for accommodating the operating handle 58 shown in the upper inoperative position in FIGURE 1.

Impaling means are provided on the operating shaft 53 for impaling the leading newspaper N and for lifting the impaled newspaper from behind the retaining wall 371;.

55 More specifically, a pair of arms are suitably secured to the operating shaft 53 in axially spaced relationship and extend rearwardly of the cabinet toward the stack of newspapers N when the operating handle 58 is in the inoperative position as shown in FIGURE 5. Although it is withthe scope of the invention to provide a single arm 61 only in the preferred embodiment, a pair of such arms 61 are provided which in the illustrated axially spaced relationship on the shaft 53 are each positioned inwardly adjacent a marginal side edge portion of the leading newspaper N.

As shown best in FIGURE 5, the arms 61 are preferably in the form of a rectangular bracket having an end wall 61a. Each of the arms 61 is provided with a downwardly depending bar 62 pivotally mounted on the distal end of the arm by means such as a pivot pin 63. The upper end of the bar 62 is arcuately formed at 62a and the lower end is provided with at least one, preferably two, pins 64 projecting in the direction of the leading newspaper N.

Means are provided for urging the bar 62 into substantially a right angle relationship with the arm 61 as shown in FIGURE which in the specific embodiment illustrated includes a spring 66 suitably mounted on the arm 61 by means such as pins 66a. The engagement of the pin bar edge 62b with the arm wall 61a under the urging action of the spring 66 maintains the bar 62 in the right angle relationship with the arm 61 as shown in FIGURE 5. The arcuate end surface 62a on the bar 62 permits the bar 62 to move in the direction of the arrow I out of the right angle relationship of FIGURE 5 against the yield ing action of spring 66.

Stationary stripping means are provided in the cabinet 11 which are arranged to be engaged by the impaled newspaper to remove it from the pins 64. More specifically, the access door 22 is provided with vertically extending inwardly directed flanges 67, 68 adjacent each side edge of the door. As shown in FIGURE 3, flanges 67, 68 together with upper and lower flanges 69, 71 also provided on the door 22, form a seat for the door Window 24. Preferably vertically extending stiffening flanges 72, 73 are also provided on the inner surface of the door 22 as shown best in FIGURES 3, 8 which are cut away at 72a, 73a to accommodate the operating shaft 53.

It will be noted that the downwardly depending pin bars 62 are positioned closely adjacent the vertical door flanges 67, 68 so as to move in a path closely adjacent and parallel with the outer sides of the flanges 67, 68. Although the stripping of an impaled newspaper from the pins 64 may be accomplished with the use of the flanges 67, 68 alone, in the preferred embodiment additional flanges 74, 76 having inwardly protruding portions 740, 76a are positioned adjacent the outer side of each of the flanges 67, 68 respectively and in spaced parallel relationship therewith to define a slot for accommodating the bars 62. It will be noted that the inwardly extending flange portions 74a, 76a extend inwardly of the cabinet for substantially the same distance as the inwardly extending flanges 67, 68. For ease of manufacture, the flanges 74, 76 may be an extension of the partition 31 and cabinet side wall 16 as shown best in FIGURE 2.

As has been previously explained, the coin release mechanism 33 forms no part of this invention and any commercially available coin release mechanism may be employed with the machine of this invention. However, means are provided for urging the operating handle and parts connected thereto into the inoperative solid line position of FIGURE 4 which in the specific embodiment illustrated is contained within the coin release mechanism. It should be understood, however, that any suitable urging means such as a spring may be connected to the operating shaft 53 for accomplishing this purpose.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the coin release mechanism 33 includes a bell crank lever designated generally by the numeral 81 having legs 82, 83. An ear 83a is provided 6 on the lower end of the leg 83 which acts to retain the lever 81 in the solid line position of FIGURE 4 until released by the proper change inserted within the coin slots 34 in the conventional manner. The lever 81 is pivotally mounted at 84 to a bracket 86 fixed within the cabinet 11. An arm 87 is pivotally mounted at 83 to the leg 82 and the upper end of the arm 87 is pivotally connected at 89 to a link 91 secured at its other end to the operating shaft 53. Means such as a spring 92 for urging the parts into the solid line position of FIGURE 4 is connected between the lower end of arm 87 and the outer end of leg 82 as shown. Thus, rotation of the shaft 53 by means of the operating handle 58 moves the parts into the dotted line position of FIGURE 4'against the yielding force of the spring 92 as it expands into the dotted line length shown. Thus, the return of the operating handle 58 and associated parts to the solid line position of FIG- URE 4 is accomplished by the contraction of spring 92.

In order to load the cabinet 11 with newspapers N for customer operation, the plate 42 is moved to the rear of the cabinet 11 in a position adjacent the cabinet rear wall 14 as shown in FIGURE 2. The forward end 511) of the locking rod 51 is then hooked over the upper edge of plate 42 by manipulating the rod bent end 51a so that the plate 42 is retained in this position against the loading action of the rod members 43, 44. Access to the cabinet interior 38 and to the plate 42 therein is provided through the front wall opening 21 when the door 22 is opened. The stack of newspapers N to be vended in the machine inserted in the cabinet 11 through opening 21 are then stacked vertically on edge within the cabinet interior 38 with the lower edges of the newspapers supported on rails 39.

The locking rod 51 is then rotated to disengage bent end 51a and release the plate 42 so that the plate moves towards the cabinet front wall 13' and against the rear of the stack of newspapers N under the loading action of the spring loaded rod members 43, 44. As shown in FIGURES 57, the plate 42 forces the lower edge portion of the leading newspaper N in the stack against the retaining wall 37b and after the access door 22 is closed and locked, the machine is ready for vending newspapers.

In the operation of the machine, the parts are in the position of FIGURE 5 awaiting the manipulation of the machine by a customer. The customer desiring a newspaper deposits the proper change in the coin slots 34 in the cabinet front wall 13. As previously explained, the coins fall into the coin release mechanism 33 so as to permit release of the operating shaft 53 in the conventional manner. As previously stated, the operation of the coin release mechanism forms no part of this invention and therefore its operation will not be discussed.

The customer then moves the operating handle 53 downwardly from the solid line to the dotted line position of FIGURE 4 against the loading action of spring 92 as it expands to the dotted line condition of FIGURE 4. This downward movement of the operating handle 58 rotates the operating shaft 53 to move the arms 61 and bars 62 attached thereto in the direction of the arrow P in FIG- URE 5.

As the bars 62 move in the direction of the arrow P, the pins 64 impale the leading newspaper N' adjacent the side edges of the newspaper lifting it vertically upward as shown in FIGURE 6 and moving it from behind the retaining wall 37b. It will be noted that when the leading newspaper N clears the retaining wall 37b, the subjacent newspaper N then moves against the retaining wall 37b under the loading action of plate 42.

As the impaled newspaper is moved upwardly, the bars 62 are moved out of the right angle relationship with the arms 61 as shown in FIGURE 5 against the urging action of the springs 66 and the bars 62 are maintained in flushwise parallel relationship with the forward surface of the impaled newspaper N throughout the vertically upward movement of the legs 62. The downward movement of the operating handle 58 and the upward movement of the arms 61 and bars 62 terminate in the position shown in FIGURE 6 with the newspaper N suspended over the cabinet discharge opening 36.

When the operating handle 58 has been moved by the customer to its lowermost position as shown in FIGURE 6, the handle 58 may then be released. The operating handle 58 is then moved upwardly by the urging force of spring 92 as it contracts to the solid line condition of FIGURE 4. During the upward movement of the operating handle 58, the arms 61 and bars 62 swing downwardly from the position of FIGURE 6 carrying the impaled newspaper N on the other side of the retaining wall 37!). As the bars 62 move downwardly, they simultaneously return under the action of springs 66 to the right angle relationship of FIGURES 5, 7.

In addition, the bars 62 moving in the direction of the arrow I of FIGURE 7 move into the slots defined by flange portion 74a, flange 67, and flange portion 76a, flange 68 as shown clearly in FIGURES 3, 8. The edges of these flanges engage the impaled newspaper N as the bars 62 move into the slot so that the impaled newspaper N is stripped or removed from the pins 64.

Since there is no further restraint on the newspaper N after it is stripped from pins 64, it falls by gravity downwardly as shown in FIGURE 7 through the cabinet discharge opening 36 and is deposited in the trough 37a of the delivery chute 37. The newspaper N is therefore exposed for removal by the customer who has only to pick up the newspaper N and remove it completely from the cabinet 11. The parts having been returned to the position of FIGURE with the stack of newspapers N loaded against the retaining wall 3712 as shown, the machine is then ready for a subsequent operation by the next customer.

It can be seen that there has been provided with the novel construction of this invention a newspaper vending machine which is far more reliable than automatic machines available today While at the same time is constructed of so few parts as to be extremely inexpensive to manufacture. The manufacturing cost of the machine of the invention closely approaches and may even be less than that machine available today which utilizes a swinging door for exposing the entire stack of newspapers to the customer without the risk of theft and attendant loss common to such present day machines. The machine of the invention may be easily loaded with newspapers and once loaded will dispense individual newspapers to purchasers who are required to merely insert the proper change in the machine and manipulate a lever with very little effort.

Due to the simplicity and novel construction of the combination of parts in the machine of the invention, malfunctioning such as improper operation of the various parts or jamming of the newspapers is virtually non-existent and individual newspapers are delivered from the stack without fail to a customer. One outstanding feature of the invention is the construction by which the leading newspaper is impaled which utilizes a pin bar that is maintained in flush parallel engagement with the impaled newspaper as it is lifted upwardly. The spring on each lifting arm and bar assembly which urges the bar into right angle relationship with the arm permits such engagement between the bar and newspaper as well as permitting the arm to move out of this right angle relationship during the lifting movement. Thus, the impaled newspaper is maintained substantially vertical as it is lifted upwardly. Furthermore, the newspaper is brought down while being maintained in this substantially vertical position for removal from the pins by the flanges in the cabinet and continues vertically downward through the cabinet discharge opening after being stripped. With this novel construction, malfunctioning such as jamming of the newspapers is no longer a problem in such a vending ma- 0 chine. Another outstanding construction feature of the invention is that the customer is required to move the manual operating lever in one direction as novel spring means incorporated in the coin release mechanism are provided for automatically returning the parts to the starting position.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is the aim of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

I. A machine for vending periodicals such as news- .papers and the like comprising, in combination, a cabinet, means in said cabinet for supporting a stack of newspapers vertically on edge, retaining means adjacent the forward end of said stack supporting means, means for yieldingly urging said stack of newspapers against said retaining means, a discharge opening in said cabinet, an operating shaft rotatably joumaled in said cabinet, newspaper impaling means on said operating shaft, stationary stripping means fixedly positioned on said cabinet separate from said newspaper impaling means, means for rotating said shaft in one direction to impale the leading newspaper in said stack with said impaling means and lift said leading newspaper from behind said retaining means, means for rotating said shaft in the opposite direction to carry said impaled newspaper downwardly and forwardly into engagement with said stripping means whereby said newspaper is removed from said impaling means by said stripping means and falls by gravity into said discharge opening.

2. A machine for vending periodicals such as newspapers and the like comprising, in combination, a cabinet, means in said cabinet for supporting a stack of newspapers vertically on edge, retaining means adjacent the forward end of said stack supporting means, means for yieldingly urging said stack of newspapers against said retaining means, a discharge opening in said cabinet, an operating shaft rotatably journaled in said cabinet, newspaper impaling means in said cabinet including at least one bar, at least one pin on said bar, means for yieldingly mounting said bar on said operating shaft with said pin extending towards the leading news-paper in said stack, stationary stripping means fixedly positioned on said cabinet separate from said newspaper impaling means, means for rotating said shaft in one direction to impale the leading newspaper in said stack with said pin and lift said leading newspaper from behind said retaining means, means for rotating said shaft in the opposite direction to :move said bar downwardly and forwardly against said stripping means to engage said newspaper with said stripping means whereby said newspaper is removed from said pin by said stripping means and falls by gravity into said discharge opening.

3. A machine for Vending periodicals such as newspapers and the like comprising, in combination, a cabinet, means in said cabinet for supporting a stack of newspapers vertically on edge, retaining means adjacent the forward end of said stack supporting means, means for yieldingly urging said stack of newspapers against said retaining means, a discharge opening in said cabinet, stripping means in said cabinet, an operating shaft rotatably journaled in said cabinet, newspaper impaling means in said cabinet including at least one radially extending arm mounted on said shaft and extending towards said stack of newspapers, a downwardly directed bar pivotally mounted on the distal end of said arm, at least one pin on said bar extending toward the leading newspaper in said stack, means for yieldingly urging said bar into substantially a right angle relationship with said arm, means for rotating said shaft in one direction to impale the leading newspaper in said stack with said pin and lift said leading newspaper from behind said retaining means, said bar being pivotally movable out of said right angle relationship against said urging means as said newspaper is lifted by said pin, means for rotating said shaft in the opposite direction to move said bar downwardly and forwardly against said stripping means to engage said newspaper with said stripping means whereby said newspaper is removed from said pin by said stripping means and falls by .gravity into said discharge opening.

4. A machine in accordance with claim 3 wherein said newspaper impaling means includes a pair of said radially extending arms mounted on said shaft in axially spaced relationship, each of said arms being positioned opposite a vertical marginal side edge portion of said leading newspaper for simultaneous engagement of said newspaper by said pins.

5. A machine for Vending periodicals in accordance with claim 3 wherein said stripping means include an inwardly projecting, vertically extending flange in said cabinet.

6. A machine for vending periodicals in accordance with claim 5 including an access opening in said housing, an access door hinged'ly mounted on said cabinet in closing relationship with said access opening, and wherein said vertically extending inwardly projecting flange is mounted on said door.

7. A machine for vending periodicals such as newspapers and the like comprising, in combination, a cabinet having a front wall, a platform in said cabinet for supporting a stack of newspapers vertically on edge, a retaining wall adjacent the forward end of said platform, spring loaded pressing means in said cabinet for yieldingly urging said stack of newspapers against one side of said retaining wall, a discharge opening in said cabinet, an access opening in said cabinet front wall, an access door hingedly mounted on said cabinet in closing relationship with said access opening, a vertically extending inwardly projecting flange on each side of the inner surface of said door, a vertically extending inwardly projecting flange on the inner surface of said cabinet front wall in laterally spaced, parallel relationship with each of said door flanges to define a slot, an operating shaft rotatably journaled in said cabinet, an operating handle secured to said shaft and extending through said cabinet front wall, a pair of arms mounted on said shaft in axially spaced relationship, each of said arms extending radially towards the leading newspaper in said stack and positioned opposite the vertical marginal side edge portion of said leading newspaper, a downwardly directed bar pivotally mounted on the distal end of each of said arms, a pin on each of said bars extending toward said leading newspaper, a spring for yieldingly urging each of said bars into substantially a right angle relationship with its associated arm, said operating handle being arranged to rotate said shaft in one direction to impale the leading newspaper with said pin simultaneously and lift said newspaper from behind said retaining wall one side, said bars being simultaneously maintained in substantially flush, vertical engagement with said leading newspaper during said lifting movement and pivota'lly movable out of said right angle relationship against the urging action of said spring, means to rotate said shaft in the opposite direction to carry said impaled newspaper downwardly on the other side of said retaining wall and to simultaneously move said bars in said associated slot between said spaced flanges whereby said flanges engage said newspaper to remove said newspaper from said pins and thereby permit said newspaper to fall by gravity into said discharge opening and means for urging said shaft in said opposite direction.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,600,623 9/ 1926 Chesnut et al 22l216 X 2,876,884 3/1959 Ray 221-214 X 3,082,910 3/1963 Skold 22136 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

JOHN PETO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MACHINE FOR VENDING PERIODICALS SUCH AS NEWSPAPERS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CABINET, MEANS IN SAID CABINET FOR SUPPORTING A STACK OF NEWSPAPERS VERTICALLY ON EDGE, RETAINING MEANS ADJACENT THE FORWARD END OF SAID STACK SUPPORTING MEANS, MEANS FOR YIELDINGLY URGING SAID STACK OF NEWSPAPERS AGAINST SAID RETAINING MEANS, A DISCHARGE OPENING IN SAID CABINET, NEWSOPERATING SHAFT ROTATABLY JOURNALED IN SAID CABINET, NEWSPAPER IMPALING MEANS ON SAID OPERATING SHAFT, STATIONARY STRIPPING MEANS FIXEDLY POSITIONED ON SAID CABINET SEPARATE FROM SAID NEWSPAPER IMPALING MEANS, MEANS FOR ROTATING FROM SAID SHAFT IN ONE DIRECTION TO IMPALE THE LEADING NEWSPAPER IN SAID STACK WITH SAID IMPALING MEANS AND LIFT SAID LEADING NEWSPAPER FROM BEHIND SAID RETAINING MEANS, MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO CARRY SAID IMPALED NEWSPAPER DOWNWARDLY AND FORWARDLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STRIPPING MEANS WHEREBY SAID NEWSPAPER IS REMOVED FROM SAID IMPALING MEANS BY SAID STRIPPING MEANS AND FALLS BY GRAVITY INTO SAID DISCHARGE OPENING. 